We wait for the birth of Jesus (St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata / Tish Harrison Warren)

It is Christmas every time 

you let God love others through you.
 

--St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata 

   Mary’s story recalls that joy can’t be gotten cheaply. The pain of the world cannot be papered over in a sentimental display of tamed little angels and a cute, chubby baby Jesus. The emptiness in the world and in our own lives can’t be filled with enough hurry or buying power or likes or retweets. We wait for the birth of Jesus, who was called Emmanuel, God with us. We wait with Mary for our hunger to be filled. 

--Tish Harrison Warren 

To hear the incredible a cappella ensemble Kings Return sing O Holy Night on this very holy night, click on the video below: 

Image source 1: The Jesse Tree, Christmas Eve, 2022, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mill Valley, https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=5930613513666688&set=a.5924799217581451
Image source 2: Still from The Shepherd, the pilot for The Chosen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paOjgZZDads
Quotation 1 source
Quotation 2 source
Video source